1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, 19% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 78,484 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (24% of reports).
- 66electrical system complaints
- 78,484median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 16 of 66 complaints (24%)
- Please provide: mentioned in 6 of 66 complaints (9%)
- Caught fire: mentioned in 5 of 66 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 22 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 66 complaints, 10 a fire.
Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 211 | 74% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 185 | 56% | 54,100 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 106 | 16% | 60,000 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 35 | 18% | 64,416 |
| 2001 Cavalier | 56 | 23% | 76,305 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 69 | 22% | 59,700 |
| 1999 Cavalier | 47 | 20% | 57,107 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 66 | 19% | 78,484 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 107 | 20% | 93,500 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 100 | 20% | 60,714 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 59 | 22% | 89,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online by going to www.mygmlink.com and entering the vehicle's identification number.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The gas gauge is going haywire. It pegs to the "f", and then immediately pegs to the "e", even though the tank is half full. The gauge then jumps around the middle form one side to the other side. It is impossible to tell how much is in the tank. This happens while driving and also while sitting at…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet cavalier. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 189,467.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet cavalier. While driving at 35 mph, there was an odor of smoke inside the vehicle. The contact coasted over to the side of the road, lifted the hood, and noticed that the wires from the alternator were on fire. The contact extinguished the fire. The vehicle was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Chevrolet Cavaliers have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 66 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier (19% of the 345 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 78,484 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 16 of 66 complaints, followed by “please provide” (6).
Other 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
See all 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier problems or electrical system problems across all Cavalier years.